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ferry - a short story
Project type
short story, published on 'The Second Link'.
2023 marks the 60th year since the formation of the Federation of Malaysia. This collection brings together writers from both countries to engage creatively and critically with this sense of entwinement, to reflect, to rue, and to celebrate.
Role
writer
Date
September 2023
For some, the Permanent Residency status is a hard-won refuge after toiling for years. For others, it’s like winning an easy lottery; you just need to be the right person filling in the right blanks. For me, it is a mythology, an echo. A ferry you wouldn’t know if you’ll get on, even if you’re already wading through muddied waters.
The story will be a fictionalised account of my experience at an agency that helps people apply for a Permanent Residency. I initially wanted to add the story under the banner of ‘The National’, with Tara taking my place. But I would not mind giving it a life of its own.
The agency boasts close ties with the Ministry of Manpower and Immigrations & Checkpoints Authority. Tara almost signs the contract at the behest of the agent, before noticing that it doesn’t guarantee success, even with an SGD$8,000 price tag. It is a story of how the system so tantalisingly dangles our dreams, our desires, only to extort and exploit us.